Related Resources

Opinion

From the critics

Community Activity

Comment

The reason anything endures as a classic is because it remains topical and cogent, striking a chord in those who see and hear it, even centuries after its creation. The morals of Aesop thus are as timeless as ever. They’re not about the fairness of life (what’s fair about being judged a felon just because you’re caught in their company or being abandoned by someone you thought was a friend?). They’re not about good guys winning over bad ones. The morals are merely guidelines to keep in mind as we wend our way through our lives.

This variation of the tales are enlivened with distinctive color illustrations by Mr. Pinkney. Mice aren’t all one color or type but have distinctive variations (See “The Mice and the Weasels”). A dog with a cowbell looks like the idiotic creature he is, while a man fights against the grasping hands of the North Wind. This is a superb anthology for the collector of fine illustrations. Fans of Brian Pinkney are in for a treat.